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Overloaded circuits: why smart people underperform.
1Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health, Sudbury, Massachusetts, USA. ehallowell@aol.com
Harvard Business Review
|February 9, 2005
Summary
Attention deficit trait (ADT) is a neurological response to a hyperkinetic environment, not an illness. Managing ADT involves environmental, emotional, and physical health strategies for better organization and reduced stress.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Organizational Psychology
Background:
- Modern work environments create a 'hyperkinetic' state, leading to a phenomenon termed Attention Deficit Trait (ADT).
- ADT is a response to information overload, not a clinical diagnosis, but is widespread in organizations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To define Attention Deficit Trait (ADT) as a neurological response to environmental stressors.
- To explore the causes, symptoms, and management strategies for ADT in professional settings.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis and clinical observation by a psychiatrist.
- Identification of ADT as a response to excessive input and organizational demands.
Main Results:
- ADT manifests as difficulty with organization, prioritization, and time management, accompanied by panic and guilt.
- Cognitive changes include 'black-and-white' thinking and loss of perspective due to frontal lobe function impairment.
Conclusions:
- ADT can be managed through environmental adjustments, self-care (sleep, diet, exercise), and task management techniques.
- Organizational strategies, including matching employee skills to tasks and fostering a positive atmosphere, can prevent ADT.